The metropolitan police’s special investigation unit of the community safety division took Yuki Matsuoka, 28, the manager of Bar Encounter, located in Toshima Ward, into custody for lacking a business license in accordance with the nationwide adult-entertainment law. “This is not an unauthorized operation. I was busy in getting the proper approval,” he is quoted by officers.

According to officers working on the investigation, Matsuoka was previously employed as a host at a bar that was shut down. In August 2009, he opened Bar Encounter, which has since taken in approximately 100 million yen in revenue. It employed approximately 12 hosts, whose work tasks typically include chatting with women and pouring their drinks.

According to Fuji News Network, officers entered the premises at around 2:00 a.m. on October 14 and found two hosts entertaining a pair of women, aged 20 and 24.

Matsuoka had been promoting his operation as a “boy’s bar” in an attempt to present the establishment as an ordinary eating and drinking operation not subject to adult-entertainment regulations.